Blenheim Palace launches wellbeing programme

Stately home Blenheim Palace has introduced a new wellbeing scheme for its 250 permanent Oxfordshire-based staff.

The new programme is designed to raise awareness of the importance of both physical and mental health.

It includes a range of workshops, activities, and training opportunities, such as mental health awareness workshops, and mentor and buddy schemes.

Managers and supervisors will also undergo additional training to enable them to identify and support staff who may be struggling with their physical or mental health.

The new scheme also gives employees access to free tai chi and yoga classes, outdoor personal training sessions, nutrition seminars, and cookery classes. Yoga mats are also available for staff to use during their breaks.

Sarah Morris, head of human resources at Blenheim Palace, said: “We are at work for a large part of our lives and so it’s vitally important that when we are here we are healthy; both physically and mentally. What we have at Blenheim Palace is unique and special and our staff are an integral part of that.

“In particular, as employers it is our responsibility to do everything we can to raise awareness of the issues surrounding mental health and also to provide our staff with the tools and systems to help them thrive in the workplace rather than just survive.

“For far too long people have ignored the importance of wellbeing and the impact stress can have on our lives and I am delighted that we are able to offer an ongoing programme of events for our staff to explore what wellbeing might mean to them. Studies have shown this is not only beneficial to the individual but also to the business as a whole; with far fewer days lost to illness and absenteeism, lower staff turnover and higher productivity and job satisfaction.”